Gabrielle Giffords led Democrats in the Pledge of Allegiance on Thursday, the
longest public address the former congresswoman has made since since being
shot in the head by a would-be assassin.

Miss Giffords, who has become a hero to her party and the country during her struggle towards recovery, emerged to enormous applause and many delegates wept as they watched her walking unaided across the stage.

In a clear and strident voice and with a broad smile on her face, she led the crowd of more than 20,000 through the 31-word loyalty oath that Americans swear to the flag during each convention night.

Her smile broadened as she reached the end of the pledge and lingered on stage for a moment, accompanied by her friend Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and blew kisses as the audience roared with applause.

While the 42-year-old is now able to walk, her powers of speech remain limited and on her few public appearances she has often just repeated short phrases.

It was expected that she would be joined by her husband, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut who has nursed her back towards health in the months since the massacre in Tucson, Arizona. The couple have spent the last year and a half months in a Texas rehab facility before finally returning home to Arizona a few weeks ago.

Miss Giffords, who was hailed as one of the Democratic Party's most promising female politicians, had long been rumoured to be planning an appearance at the convention and a spokesman confirmed her arrival in Charlotte, North Carolina, yesterday.

In her most high-profile appearance since the shooting she reduced many of the country's most seasoned politicians to tears when she came to the floor of the House of Representatives in January to officially tender her resignation.

Miss Giffords later appeared at a campaign rally for Ron Barber, her former aide who succeeded her as the representative for Arizona's 8th congressional district, but did not speak.

Mr Barber, who was born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was also hit in shooting spree by gunman Jared Loughner but survived with relatively minor wounds to his face and thigh.